9 News 3 February 2016

Protesters opposing a coal seam gas wastewater plant in northern NSW aren't giving up their cause any time soon.

Around 30 anti-CSG demonstrators blocked access on Wednesday morning to the Santos Leewood Water treatment plant in the Pilliga forest south of Narrabri, which will support 850 CSG wells above the Great Artesian Basin.

Sixth-generation farmer Neil Kennedy from Coonamble has chained himself by the neck to the site's front gate, despite heavy rain turning the ground to mud.

"We're going to keep on protesting and doing what we can, fighting this thing," Mr Kennedy told AAP from a mobile phone.

The 73-year-old admitted he was "getting a bit old for this", but he doesn't want to see the land destroyed for future generations.

"I've got 13 grandchildren, and they're good little blokes and I'd like to think they've got a future out here," he said.

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/02/03/13/05/protesters-continue-to-block-nsw-csg-site#J3zK3rJ5EerCduql.99

Feb. 2, 2016, 8:30 p.m. Northern Daily Leader

ANTI-coal seam gas groups have hit back at claims the majority of people in the Narrabri Shire support Santos’ operations.

The Narrabri Chamber of Commerce told The Leader on Monday the “vast majority” of the shire was pro-Santos.

However, Lock The Gate and People For The Plains said their research showed the opposite.

People For The Plains spokeswoman Sarah Ciesiolka said they had conducted door-to-door community surveys.

Of those asked, 96 per cent of people were opposed to coal seam gas (CSG).

“The surveys have conclusively demonstrated Santos has no social licence to operate here,” Ms Ciesiolka said.

“Despite what Santos, Yes2Gas and the Narrabri Chamber of Commerce would like people to believe, there is wide-scale community rejection of the CSG industry in North West NSW, and Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project in particular.”

Simon Evans SMH

Ouch. Chinese private equity fund Hony Capital is down $425 million on its investment in ailing Santos.

The oil price has plunged a further 40 per cent since Hony came to the rescue in early November 2015, as part of the temporary fix to the Santos balance sheet, which also included a rights issue, a cut in dividends, and big cost reductions.

Hony, through its quaintly named investment vehicles United Faith Ventures and Robust Nation, holds 9.81 per cent of Santos.

It will soon find itself free of restrictions three months from November 9, 2015 prevented it moving 9.9 per cent under the original agreement to become a cornerstone shareholder.

He joined the protest to draw attention to Santos’ broader plan for 850 wells in the Pilliga. The Leewood facility is designed to treat up to one million litres of coal seam gas wastewater each day from exploratory works in the forest, and is under construction without development consent.

Mr Joll, 49, was shocked at the size of the project which protesters say threatens the Great Artesian Basin.

Peter Hannam - Sydney Morning Herald

The government has met with a series of anti-mining activists amid slumping industry fortunes, apparently making good on a pledge to give more equal weight to environmental and social issues when considering mine approvals.

The conciliatory approach with activists comes at a crucial time for the coal mining industry, with Premier Mike Baird's government considering approvals to mine 1.2 billion tonnes, after approving 1.8 billion tonnes of new coal mining since he became premier.

Struggling oil and gas producer Santos has warned investors

Struggling oil and gas producer Santos has warned investors that it will take asset value write-downs, but has not put an estimate on how big they will be.

The Adelaide-based energy company has seen its share price fall 72 per cent from a recent peak of $9.10 in May, to yesterday's close of just $2.56, leaving the company hovering around its lowest share price since the early 1990s.

In its fourth-quarter production report Santos reiterated comments in a November 9 investor presentation that it expected to book reductions to asset carrying values and reserves in its full-year accounts, to be released on February 19.

By EDO NSW CEO/Principal Solicitor Sue Higginson

You may have heard that our client People for the Plains, a community group from the Pilliga, is taking CSG company Santos to court over its Leewood CSG waste water development near the iconic Pilliga woodlands. The group argues that without a proper environmental assessment and public consultation, the development is illegal.

The Pilliga – a biodiversity hotspotThe Pilliga is the largest remaining unfragmented block of temperate dry forest and woodland in eastern Australia. It functions as a key refuge for native plants and animals in a landscape largely cleared for agriculture. It is part of a National Biodiversity Hotspot, home to rare species such as the Pilliga Mouse, and is recognised as a globally significant Important Bird Area.[1]

The Pilliga is an important, biodiverse ecosystem. It is also a significant recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin, one of the largest underground water reservoirs in the world and the most important ground water resource in arid and semi-arid eastern Australia.

Within this stunning environment, the Leewood Water Treatment Plant will process over 1 million litres of coal seam gas (CSG) waste water every day. Santos then plans to use the water to irrigate crops on farmland next to the Pilliga forest.

The Guardian

Three women from the “Knitting Nannas” anti-coal seam gas group have been charged after chaining themselves by the neck to a wastewater plant gate in northern New South Wales.

The women locked themselves on to the gates of the Santos Leewood Water treatment plant south of Narrabri on Monday morning. The treatment plant will support 850 CSG wells above the Great Artesian Basin.